Ripley man arrested after fleeing traffic stop near Highway 70 in Jackson

A police pursuit of a green Ford Explorer occurred on the evening of Nov. 25 in Madison County near Highway 70.

The suspect was been identified as 38-year-old Eric Taylor of Ripley, Tennessee. 

According to a statement from the Madison County Sheriff’s Director of Communications Jeff Wall, Taylor was initially stopped by a deputy for a traffic offense, but when the deputy approached the vehicle, Taylor sped away. 

While reaching speeds of 80 mph after getting on I-40, Taylor began to discard small bags from the vehicle. 

“The deputy pursued the vehicle and during the pursuit, the driver was observed throwing contraband out of the window,” described Wall. 

The bagged substance in question was discovered to be Ecstasy — a classified Schedule 1 drug by the Department of Justice/Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Marijuana was also found in the suspect’s vehicle. 

After Taylor and the deputy’s vehicle got into a collision on Highway 19, the suspect escaped on foot. Once arrested at Hwy.19 and Brentwood Drive in Brownsville, he was charged by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office with evading and resisting arrest and possession of a Schedule 1 narcotic.

“Taylor also has warrants from Madison County for possession of schedule VI, driving on a suspended license, reckless endangerment, tampering with evidence, felony evading, improper registration, and failure to maintain lane,” according to Wall. 

The Taylor pursuit is an ongoing investigation and no further information has been released at this time.